In Japan, serving tea is both an art and a spiritual discipline. The tea ceremony offers an opportunity to appreciate the aesthetics of the tea room, the tactile experience of holding the bowl, and the joy of sharing a moment with friends. With roots tracing back to the twelfth century, it is deeply intertwined with architecture, landscape gardening, ceramics, painting, flower arrangement, and Zen Buddhism. Written by contemporary tea masters, this work provides a comprehensive exploration of the origins and evolution of the tea ceremony. The authors examine all aspects of the ritual, including art, architecture, incense, flowers, and Zen influences, illustrating how the study of tea can lead to spiritual insight and tranquility. Originally published in 1973, this extensively revised edition features a rewritten text, new photographs, and line drawings. Over 75 step-by-step images of the tea ritual, including close-ups, enhance the reader's understanding. New line drawings highlight key elements of the ceremony, while bilingual charts of tea terms offer additional resources for those interested in further study. This lavish edition enriches the literature on tea, capturing the aesthetic spirit at the heart of the ritual, with over 330 photographs and illustrations of tea houses, gardens, utensils, and scenes from the ceremony, along with appendices detailing famous tea houses, tea terms, and a glossary.
